"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." Northwoods is a ministry dedicated to refreshing Christians and challenging them to search for the truth in Christianity, politics, sociology, and science

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"

Father God, thank you for the love of the truth you have given me. Please bless me with the wisdom, knowledge and discernment needed to always present the truth in an attitude of grace and love. Use this blog and Northwoods Ministries for your glory. Help us all to read and to study Your Word without preconceived notions, but rather, let scripture interpret scripture in the presence of the Holy Spirit. All praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Pope Francis Trying to make Catholicism less Religious

His chances of success are dubious at best, but you gotta give him credit for trying. In an interview with a Catholic Latin magazine, Francis reiterated his openness to receiving gays and lesbians who are searching for God and who have goodwill. He doesn't define how one determines whether someone has goodwill or not.

He has been silent on the issues of abortion and contraception which has irked a lot of ranking people in the church. His point is that these things don’t need to dominate conversation in the church, but that the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be the main focus.

This sounds almost evangelical. Not demanding the rules and traditions be followed to the letter but rather focusing more on the spiritual rather than the religious. Evangelicals consider themselves to be spiritual but not religious.

He said the Church had become tied up in "small-minded rules" and risked losing its true purpose.

"We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible,'' he said.

Of course there are inherent scriptural problems in allowing gays as priests and bishops, and to allow them into the church but not into the priesthood will not fly with gay lobbies pushing for those rights.

The Pope has a bigger problem, though. Change is almost anathema to the Catholic Church – it only comes in a glacier-like movement. If Francis pushes too hard and too fast, he will alienate too many Bishops and Cardinals. He may well put himself in danger of being declared an anti-pope, or worse.